TAMRMS#: B05
title
BUDGET INFORMATION REQUEST (BIR) - Subsidy Program
Requested by: Councillor Hughes
Date of Request: November 17, 2025
Date Response Due: November 21, 2025
Confidential: No
label
QUESTION
recommendation
Please provide an update to the Subsidy Program, with if any changes have been implemented. Also, please provide the amount the taxpayers are funding to provide subsidies to city programs, and which programs (with the amounts) are being subsidized, including transit.
body
RESPONSE
The City of St. Albert Subsidy Program, governed by Council Policy C-CS-18 Recreation & Culture Subsidy Program, helps remove financial barriers for low-income residents by providing affordable access to recreation facilities, recreation and cultural programs, and transit services.
Although the City continues to offer subsidy support, the program is designed so that it has no tax impact on residents. The cost of the subsidy is fully offset by matching revenue. When a subsidy is provided (e.g., for Recreation or Transit) to a resident, a full amount of the program revenue is recorded in the department providing the service and the offsetting subsidy expense reflected within the Community Services budget. These two transactions offset each other, resulting in a net-zero impact on the City's budget.
For 2026, no changes have been made to the Subsidy Program, other than a reduction to the transit subsidy budget due to the transition to ARC Cards in 2025.
Subsidy Program Budget: Low-income access to recreation facilities and programs
2024 Budget
2024 Actuals
2025 Budget
2025 Actuals (as of Oct 30)
2025 Forecast
2026 Budget
$247,800
$309,471
$247,800
$224,800
$247,800
$247,800
Subsidy Program Budget: AISH recipients access to Transit Services
2024 Budget
2024 Actuals
2025 Budget
2025 Actuals (as of Oct 30)
2025 Forecast
2026 Budget
$61,200
$51,800
$61,200
$3,100
$5,000
$36,200
To note: the subsidized transit ridership in 2025 is consistent with previous yea...
Click here for full text